Last Night Was First Night w CPAP Machine

Hey Everyone - I'm new to this forum as I was just recently diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and, a week later, went to bed using a CPAP machine last night. I decided to post on this forum for anyone that's feeling anxiety about waiting for their machine, the consultation with the respiratory therapist, intimidated by the instructions/insurance compliance/rules, or nervous about that first night. Obviously, it's just been one night for me so I'm no expert but I can share my experience and hopefully help. Like you, I couldn't wait to get my machine (who knew just how dangerous Sleep Apnea was prior to their sleep study? me either) and was nervous that I would miss some instructions or that nothing would fit and I'd go through rounds and rounds of trying to find the right mask, sleeping position, etc. However, I found the whole process to be quite simple and easily understandable. The machine takes care of most of the things I was worried about itself (air pressure, recording data for Dr./Insurance company, adjusting pressure, letting me know if there was a leak, letting me know if it was helping me sleep!) and the set up was quick and easy as well. Last night I turned it on, threw my mask (using nasal pillows) on, and was able to get to sleep rather quickly. The best part is that I woke up to a machine that told me I had 6.38 hours of sleep with an AHI of 3.5 (whereas it was at 88 untreated). I can't wait till a few weeks have passed and my body is finally used to uninterrupted sleep and my health begins to rebound. I'm excited about the whole process of feeling better and I hope anyone looking for some positive vibes on here keeps the health benefits and great possibilities of finally sleeping brings to the table!

I will say that I'm worried about traveling with that thing but - like most things - I guess you just adjust and get used to it.

Good Luck Everyone!!!

Congratulations! Most people don't take to it so quickly; It took me a full week of struggling, couldn't get leaks under control or sleep with the mask, etc. Welcome to the forum!

I am new too. I got my machine 10 days ago. It's very hard. First mask was too large and a nasal mask but I am always stuffed up so that didn't work. It took insurance company a week to approve humidifier which I need because if sinus issues. As if today I have a good mask and humidifier. I will start over. The pressure is scary for me coming on. My pressure is 12/7 bipap. I lowered it to 10/5 and it feels better to adjust to using machine. After I adjust I can out it back to the 12/7 set by sleep study doctor.
I just hope I can relax and adjust to breathing with a machine.
Any tips?

I am having hard time after 10 days wrote:I am new too. I got my machine 10 days ago. It's very hard. First mask was too large and a nasal mask but I am always stuffed up so that didn't work. It took insurance company a week to approve humidifier which I need because if sinus issues. As if today I have a good mask and humidifier. I will start over. The pressure is scary for me coming on. My pressure is 12/7 bipap. I lowered it to 10/5 and it feels better to adjust to using machine. After I adjust I can out it back to the 12/7 set by sleep study doctor.
I just hope I can relax and adjust to breathing with a machine.
Any tips?

A couple of things. First off, you'll most likely get more information if you start your own top level thread, rather than re-directing someone else's thread *smile*. Part of learning about how to use an internet forum, I guess.

You could try using your machine when you're not sleeping, like when you're watching TV or reading, or doing something that you enjoy that is sedentary enough to allow using cpap (taking a nap?). Just to help your body get in tune with breathing on a machine, and then you may find it a lot easier at night when you're trying to sleep.

Also, a couple of things that helped me...one is using ear plugs when you're sleeping. Then you can't hear the machine nearly as much, mostly just the rhythm of your own breathing. The other was that I used Ambien the first week, just to get accustomed to sleeping with all the gear. When the week was over, and I stopped using it, I was able to get to sleep pretty normally after that.

Aside from that, there are various things that you can do to be more comfortable. Finding the a mask that works well for you is important, mask liners can be helpful for comfort and for handling leaks. I use a "hose hanger", which supports the cpap hose so that it is coming down vertically. Being an active sleeper, I just couldn't deal with the hose lying around on the bed getting in my way when I was sleeping, so the hose hanger keeps the hose up off the bed, and just works for me.

Anyways, this is a good place to hang out. You should register as a member, and get your equipment, etc. into your profile so that people that are trying to help you know more about what you're dealing with. And just stay with it, things do get easier. You get into the rhythm after while, get the kinks worked out, get used to it, and it becomes part of your routine. And it is important to your health, that was my main motivation to stay with it. Just keep asking questions, and things will get better.

I am going into my 3rd day and have not had as much luck with mine I am hopeful that I will figure things out and will start to get the results you are. I feel so alone because I was given instructions of how to use the machine and nothing else. The person I was dealing with was answering the phones and dealing with walkings at the same time. Hard to get the info when there were other things going on. It was also a VERY long drawn out process. Diagnosed in begining of July and just got the machine Thursday Aug. 21st.